Re: ...but a frost in May?

: : : : : : Can anybody help with derivation of this expression; used in the childrens song "Here we go gathering nuts in May, nuts in May, nuts in May"
: : : : : : In the northern hemisphere at least, one would expect to gather nuts in May; rather in the autumn or winter!

: : : : : 'Here we go gathering nuts in May
: : : : : On a cold and frosty morning!'
: : : : : I remember it from my childhood in Ireland but have not heard it in years. Did you mean one would 'not' expect to gather nuts in May?

: : "Remember the old childhood rhyme, "Here we go gathering nuts in May?" Well, there are no nuts involved at all. The word was originally knots, and referred to knots or bunches of flowers. So, while May 1st was an important day in the Irish farming calendar, it was also a time to celebrate the end of winter with the gathering of flowers, dancing around bonfires or May poles, and one very special activity usually performed by Irish children - the making of a May bush. It was once thought that on Beltane, the fairies would get up to more mischief than usual. So, parents were just as eager to help their children in the creation of this important May Day symbol, because it was said to protect the family, ward off evil spirits and ensure a plentiful harvest in the coming months. In more recent times, as the influence of the Roman Catholic Church became stronger and more widespread throughout Ireland, the erecting of the May Bush was done to honor the Virgin Mary."

: I agree with all of that, and if it does not sound presumptuous, I would add that 'May' = hawthorn (Crataegus).

: DFG

So the unseasonal nuts have been fully explained - however, still appearing fractionally improbable is a frost at that time of year. I'm looking toward our Irish contingent (yes, Shae, that's you) to confirm that Irish climates are as harsh as the rhyme seems to claim.